Electrical lighting circuit for a portable light

ABSTRACT

A lighting circuit includes a controllable electronic device in series with a power terminal of a controller, wherein operation of a switch causes the controller to maintain the electronic device conductive, whereby the controller then remains powered; and wherein the controller responds to a subsequent operation of the switch to render the electronic device nonconductive, whereby the controller is then unpowered even when electrical power is received. The lighting circuit is suitable for use, e.g., in a portable or other battery powered light.

This Application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/726,849 filed Jun. 1, 2015 then entitled “MODULAR LIGHT MOUNTABLE ONA HANDGUN AND ELECTRICAL LIGHTING CIRCUIT” which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/103,680 filed Jan. 15, 2015entitled “MODULAR LIGHT MOUNTABLE ON A HANDGUN,” which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention in one aspect relates to an electrical circuit forreducing the standby power of an electrical lighting circuit that may beconfigured to be employed in a portable light.

Lights mountable on a firearm are available in many configurations. Forlights mountable on a handgun e.g., a pistol, the selection of availablelights is quite limited. An owner of several such firearms must haveseparate lights each of which is configured to mount to a particularhandgun, and must choose between a light providing illumination, e.g., abeam of light for illuminating an area, and a light providing a laserspot beam for aiming the firearm.

This situation not only limits the type of light available to a firearmowner at any given time, but results in significant expense to acquireplural lights each mountable on a particular handgun and providing aparticular kind of light.

In addition, presently known available handgun lights must be removedfrom the firearm, which requires a tool, in order to change the battery,which is both time consuming and inconvenient. For such lights thatprovide a laser spot beam aiming light, the alignment of the laser beamwith the firearm sighting for accurately aiming the firearm is lost whenthe light is removed from and reinstalled on the firearm. Each of theseconditions is a severe disadvantage, and for military and police handgunusers, could increase risk to life and limb.

In addition, certain electrical lighting devices may be usedintermittently and so may remain unused for substantial periods. Modernportable lights often include sophisticated control circuitry thatincludes a microprocessor that, even though placed into a low power or“sleep” mode, still draws electrical power from the battery even duringtimes when the light is “off.” While such standby power drain may besmall, over a substantial period of time it can consume a significantportion of the available charge of the battery of a portable light, suchas a light mountable on a firearm or other portable light. As a result,such light may not operate or may operate only for a short time after asustained period of storage or non-use, which could place the userthereof at risk.

Consider a person who needs an infrequently used flashlight or otherportable light in an urgent or dangerous situation, e.g., in a naturaldisaster or to respond to an intruder, only to find at such criticaltime that its battery is dead. One example thereof could include ahomeowner or business that keeps a firearm for self protection where thefirearm and the light associated with such firearm is infrequently orrarely used. While the battery in such infrequently used light should bechecked and/or replaced periodically, the practical fact is that oftenit is not and so could be depleted by the standby power that is drawn bythe light when it is “off.”.

Applicant believes there may be a need for a light mountable on ahandgun that can be mounted to different handguns without having toobtain an additional light for each type of handgun. It is also believedto be advantageous for a light for a handgun to provide both light forillumination and a laser spot beam for aiming.

Applicant also believes there may be a need for an electrical circuitfor a portable light that reduces the standby power drain in the “off”state, thereby to extend the storage time of the light, substantially tothe shelf life of the battery itself.

Accordingly, a light mountable on a handgun may comprise: a light moduleincluding one or more light sources, a cavity for a source of electricalpower, a switch, and a circuit for energizing the light sources; anouter light housing may have complementary housing parts enclosing thelight module, and defining a cavity configured to receive a part of thehandgun and an opening through which the electrical switch of the lightmodule is actuatable; and the outer light housing may include an accesscover that is openable when the light is mounted on a handgun, forplacing and removing the source of electrical power from the lightmodule.

According to another aspect, a light mountable on a handgun maycomprise: a light module including one or more light sources, a cavityfor a source of electrical power, a switch, and a circuit for energizingthe light sources; an outer light housing may have complementary housingparts enclosing the light module, and defining a cavity configured toreceive a part of the handgun and an opening through which theelectrical switch of the light module is actuatable.

According to yet another aspect, a light mountable on a handgun maycomprise: a light module including an illumination light source and alaser aiming light source, a cavity for a source of electrical power, anelectrical switch, and a circuit for energizing the illumination lightsource and the laser aiming light source; an outer light housingenclosing the light module, and defining a cavity configured tocorrespond to a trigger guard of the handgun, and having an openingthrough which the electrical switch is actuatable from outside the outerlight housing; and the outer light housing may include an access coveron an exterior surface that is not adjacent the handgun that is openablewhen the light is mounted on a handgun for placing a source ofelectrical power into the light module housing and for removing thesource of electrical power from the light module housing.

According to a further aspect, an electrical lighting circuit maycomprise: a control processor having a control input, having a controloutputs, and having first and second power terminals; an electricalswitch contact selectively connecting one of first and second terminalsto the control input of the control processor; a first controllableelectronic device having a controllable conduction path connectedbetween the first terminal and the first power terminal of the controlprocessor, and having a control electrode coupled to a first controloutput of the control processor; wherein when electrical power isreceived at the first and second terminals, the control processor isresponsive to the electrical switch contact to provide a control voltageto the control electrode of the first controllable electronic device tomaintain the first controllable electronic device conductive; andwherein the control processor is subsequently responsive to theelectrical switch contact to remove the control voltage to the controlelectrode of the first controllable electronic device to render thefirst controllable electronic device nonconductive, whereby the controlprocessor is then unpowered even when electrical power is received.

In summarizing the arrangements described and/or claimed herein, aselection of concepts and/or elements and/or steps that are described inthe detailed description herein may be made or simplified. Any summaryis not intended to identify key features, elements and/or steps, oressential features, elements and/or steps, relating to the claimedsubject matter, and so are not intended to be limiting and should not beconstrued to be limiting of or defining of the scope and breadth of theclaimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) will be moreeasily and better understood when read in conjunction with the FIGURESof the Drawing which include:

FIG. 1 includes FIGS. 1A and 1B which are perspective views of anexample embodiment of a light mountable on a handgun, and FIG. 1C whichshows six orthogonal views thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the example light of FIG. 1 with part of itshousing removed to show a modular lighting device therein and to showthe housing engaging the frame of a handgun;

FIG. 3 includes FIG. 3A which is an exploded view of the example lightof FIGS. 1 and 2 with light module therein, and FIG. 3B which is anexploded view of the example light and of the example light module;

FIG. 4 includes FIG. 4A which is a longitudinal cross-sectional view andFIGS. 4B and 4C which are different transverse cross-sectional views ofthe example light and example light module of FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the interior side of one part of the outerlight housing for use with a different handgun than is the light ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for a portablelight.

In the Drawing, where an element or feature is shown in more than onedrawing figure, the same alphanumeric designation may be used todesignate such element or feature in each figure, and where a closelyrelated or modified element is shown in a figure, the samealphanumerical designation may be primed or designated “a” or “b” or thelike to designate the modified element or feature. Similar elements orfeatures may be designated by like alphanumeric designations indifferent figures of the Drawing and with similar nomenclature in thespecification. As is common, the various features of the drawing are notto scale, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarilyexpanded or reduced for clarity, and any value stated in any Figure isby way of example only.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 includes FIGS. 1A and 1B which are perspective views of anexample embodiment of a light 10 mountable on a handgun 20, e.g., apistol 20, viewed generally from the front and from the rear, and FIG.1C which shows six orthogonal views thereof, and FIG. 2 is a side viewof the example light 10 of FIG. 1 with part of its housing 30 removed toshow a modular lighting device 100 therein and to show the outer housing30 engaging the frame 22 of a handgun 20.

Example light 10 is intended to attach to a part of the frame 22 of ahandgun 20, e.g., to a trigger guard 24 thereof by trigger guardextension 18, and to be positioned under the barrel 26 thereof, forwhich a generally barrel-shaped recess 16 is provided. While disposingthe barrel of handgun 20 in barrel-shaped recess 16 may assist instabilizing light 10 relative to handgun 20, it also provides abeneficial aesthetic look.

Light 10 provides light in a forward direction via a forward lensassembly 12, e.g., in a direction generally aligned with the trajectoryof a projectile fired from handgun 20. Preferably, example light 10provides light for illumination of an area, which is emitted byillumination light source 120, and provides light for aiming handgun 20,which is emitted by laser light source 130. In such instance, lightsource 120 provides a wider beam, e.g., a flood beam, and light source130 provides a very narrow spot beam.

Light 10 includes at least one external actuator 14 by which either orboth of light sources 120, 130 may be selectively energized to producelight. Because shooters may be right handed or left handed, actuator 14preferably includes two actuators providing the same functionality: anactuator 14R on the right side of light 10 that can be actuated by aright finger of a shooter gripping handgun 20 with his right hand and anactuator 14L on the left side of light 10 that can be actuated by a leftfinger of a shooter gripping handgun 20 with his left hand. Preferably,while either of actuators 14R and 14L can be utilized independently toprovide the full range of operating states of illumination light source120 and of laser light source 130, it is also preferred that actuators14R, 14L can also be utilized in combination to also provide the fullrange of operating states of light sources 120, 130.

In the modular configuration of light 10, a modular light source 100that includes all of the operating elements of a light, e.g., a housing110, one or more light sources 120, 130, a cavity for an electricalpower source 150, and a switch 146 for actuating the one or more lightsources 120, 130, is enclosed in an outer light housing 30, and so outerhousing 30 provides an enclosure and support for light module 100 aswell as support for the complete light 10 on handgun 20. Because theparts of light 10 that are most necessary for providing light and arealso the most costly are contained in light module 100, that lightmodule 100 can be configured to be a light 10 mountable on the frames ofdifferent handguns by merely replacing the outer light housing 30 withan outer housing 30 configured to be mounted to the frame of a differentparticular handgun.

Outer housing 30 includes first and second sides 32, 34, e.g., a rightside 32 and a left side 34, that are complementary in shape so as tomate together and provide a complete enclosure for light module 100 anda frame cavity 32F, 34F which is configured to surround and clamp to aportion of the frame 22 of a handgun 20, e.g., around a trigger guard 24thereof. The respective parts of outer housing sides 32, 34 thatcooperate to provide trigger guard extension 18 cooperate to define aframe cavity that is formed by complementary frame cavities 32F, 34F ofthe right and left housing sides 32 and 34, respectively. The framecavities 32F, 34F are respectively defined by the respective triggerguard extensions 18R, 18L of outer housing sides 32, 34 and by therespective backing members 32T, 34T thereof which are configured tocomplement and surround the frame 22, e.g., trigger guard 24, of aparticular handgun 20.

In a pair of outer housing sides 32, 34 of a particular outer lighthousing 30, cavities 32F, 34F are configured to receive part of theframe 22, e.g., the trigger guard, of a particular handgun 20. Otherpairs of outer housing sides 32, 34 of other particular light outerhousings 30, define other cavities 32F, 34F that are configured toreceive part of the frame 22, e.g., the trigger guard, of differentparticular handguns 20, thereby to facilitate the interchangeability oflight module 100 from one handgun to another by merely changing theouter light housing 30.

Each side 32, 34 of outer light housing 30 has an actuator opening 32A,34A through which access can be made to actuate switch 146, e.g., rightand left side switches 146R, 146L of light module 100, and each ofopenings 32A, 34A is located on housing sides 32, 34 in a positionadjacent to and aligned with switches 146R and 146L, respectively. Eachof openings 32A, 34A may be covered with a flexible film or membrane orboot to reduce the entry of dirt, water and other unwanted foreignmatter into outer light housing 30.

The interior surfaces of each side 32, 34 of outer light housing 30preferably has an arrangement of ribs, posts and other projections thatare configured to abut light module 100 for supporting light module 100within outer housing 30 in a predetermined position and for providingstructural strength therefor. The arrangements of ribs, posts and otherprojections associated with cavities 32F, 34F that are configured toreceive part of the frame 22, e.g., the trigger guard, are configured toabut the part of the frame 22 to which light 10 is mounted so as toclamp light 10 to the part of the frame 22 sufficiently tightly tosecurely mount light 10 in a desired position relative to handgun 20.

Installing and/or removing example light 10 from a handgun 20 simplyinvolves removing the fasteners 38 that secure the sides 32, 34 of outerlight housing together and light module 100 therein, placing (orremoving) the sides 32, 34 with light module 100 therein in theirrespective positions relative to frame 22 of handgun 20, and replacingand tightening fasteners 38 to secure light 10 in position on frame 22of handgun 20.

FIG. 3 includes FIG. 3A which is an exploded view of the example light10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 with light module 100 therein, and FIG. 3B which isan exploded view of the example light 10 and of the example light module100; and FIG. 4 includes FIG. 4A which is a longitudinal cross-sectionalview of the example light 10 and example module 100 of FIGS. 1-3, andFIGS. 4B and 4C which are different transverse cross-sectional views ofthe example light 10 and example module 100 of FIGS. 1-3.

Outer light housing 30 sides 32, 34 are seen to fit together similar toa clamshell to surround and enclose light module 100 therein and to haverims formed to receive forward lens assembly 12 in the forward endsthereof and to define the frame cavity 32F, 34F near the rearward endthereof. The rearward portions 32R, 34R of the rim of sides 32, 34cooperate with each other and with backing members 32T, 34T and triggerguard extensions 18R, 18L to define frame cavity 32F, 34F into which apart of frame 22 of handgun 20, e.g., trigger guard 24 thereof, isreceived for attaching light 10 to handgun 20. One or more fasteners 38retain outer housing sides 32, 34 together and light 10 on handgun 20.

Light module 100 is seen to have a housing 110 including housing sides112, 114 that fit together and are retained together by one or morefasteners 118. Light module housing 110 preferably encloses lightsources 120, 130 and circuit structure 140 therein, and provides acavity 116 for receiving one or more batteries 150 therein. Light module100 provides a forward lens assembly 12 at the forward end of housing110 thereof and actuators 14R, 14L on opposing sides thereof inlocations to be adjacent to the respective actuator openings 32A, 34A ofouter light housing 30. Forward lens assembly 12 may have respectiveopenings for light sources 120, 130, and a lens may be provided at lensassembly 12 and/or as part of light sources 120, 130.

Illumination light source 120 preferably includes an outer housing 122,a reflector 124, e.g., defined by the interior shape of outer housing122, a light emitting diode (LED) light source 126, typically a whileLED, for providing an illumination light beam, e.g., typically arelatively wide or flood beam of light, e.g., a beam having a beam widthof about 10° to 150° or more. A lens 128 is provided at the forward endof housing 122 and reflector 124 through which light produced by LED 126passes.

Laser light source 130 includes a laser diode and lenses to provide avery narrow beam of coherent light, e.g., a laser beam having adivergence of only about ±2°. A lens 130L may be provided as part oflaser cartridge 130 or separately between laser cartridge 130 and lensassembly 12. Because laser light source 130 is intended to be used foraiming the handgun 20 to which light 10 is attached, the alignment ofthe laser light beam produced thereby and the bore sight of handgun 20are preferably brought into alignment to be coincident so that thetarget illuminated by the laser beam will be the target hit by aprojectile launched from the handgun.

To this end, laser light cartridge 130 is movably supported in a cavityof light module housing 110, e.g., with its forward end bearing againstan O-ring 131, or grommet, ball joint or other joint 131, with respectto which cartridge 130 may pivot over a range of angles, wherein itslongitudinal axis is movable, e.g., is pivotable or rotatable, in bothazimuth and elevation relative to light 10 (and handgun 20 to whichlight 10 is mounted). In one example embodiment, laser cartridge 130 isrotatable over about ±5° relative to the housings 110, 30 of module 100and of light 10.

Azimuth adjustment 136A may include a screw 136A that is threaded into ahorizontal hole in housing side 114 to bear against the side of lasercartridge 130 so that by rotating adjustment screw 136A in one directionor the other, laser cartridge 130 may be moved, e.g., pivoted, to theright or to the left to adjust the azimuth direction of the laser lightbeam produced by laser cartridge 130. Similarly, elevation adjustment136E may include a screw 136E that is threaded into a vertical hole inhousing side 114 to bear against the underside of laser cartridge 130 sothat by rotating adjustment screw 136E in one direction or the other,laser cartridge 130 may be moved, e.g., pivoted, upward or downward toadjust the elevation direction of the laser light beam produced by lasercartridge 130. Biasing spring 130S is positioned at an about 45° angleto urge laser cartridge 130 against both adjustment screws 136A and 136Eso that the position and alignment of laser cartridge 130 is maintainedin the position to which it is adjusted by adjustment screws 136A, 136E.

One or more batteries 150 may be disposed in battery cavity 116 of lightmodule 100 which is defined by right and left portions 116R, 116L ofmodule housing sides 112, 114. Electrical connection to a batteryterminal at the upper end of batteries 150 may be provided by anelectrical contact 148, e.g., a helical or conical spring 148, ofcircuit structure 140 and electrical connection to a battery terminal atthe lower end of batteries 150 may be facilitated and/or provided bybattery cover 36 of outer light housing 30.

Battery access cover 36 is hinged 36H to, e.g., right housing side 32,by, e.g., a hinge pin 36H and has a formed recess or projection 36L atthe opposite end thereof which engages a corresponding projection orrecess on the outer surface of left housing side 34 thereby to latch andretain battery access cover 36 in its closed position, thereby to retainbatteries 150 in light 10, and to unlatch so that batteries 150 may beremoved and/or replaced. Preferably, access cover snaps on when pressedclosed and can be snapped off to be opened, e.g., using a finger or acoin, without the need for a tool. An advantage to this arrangement isthat the batteries 150 may easily and conveniently be replaced withouthaving to remove light 10 from the handgun 20, and preferably withoutthe need for a tool.

A movable member 36M is provided adjacent to battery cover 36 so that itis positioned between battery and in physical contact with battery cover36 and lower battery 150 when battery cover 36 is closed, but is free tomove outwardly, e.g., away from battery cavity 116, when battery cover36 is open. Member 36M is urged by battery cover 36 to bear, e.g.,laterally, against the side of lower battery 150, to which sideelectrical connection to battery 150 may be made, thereby to bias andpreferably press the side of lower battery 150 against circuit structure140, e.g., against circuit board 142 thereof, for making electricalcontact with an electrical conductor thereon.

Thus, battery 150 is biased laterally by movable member 36M to be inelectrical contact with circuit board 142 and the circuitry thereon,thereby to complete the connections of batteries 150 in the circuitry oflight 10. In one example embodiment, movable member 36M includes a loopthrough which hinge pin 36H passes so that battery cover 36 and member36M are both pivotable about hinge pin 36H for providing the desiredurging and biasing of lower battery 150 against circuit board 142.

Circuit structure 140 is positioned in module housing 110 rearward oflight sources 120, 130 proximate battery cavity 116. A main circuitboard 142 includes control circuitry for operating light sources 120,130 and the left side electrical switch 146L in proper position so as tobe adjacent to actuator opening 34A of left outer housing side 34.Circuit board 142 supports an extender circuit board 144, e.g.,generally perpendicular thereto. Circuit board 144 provides electricalconnection to switch circuit board 146C which supports right sideelectrical switch 146R in proper position so as to be adjacent toactuator opening 32A of right outer housing side 32, and may alsoinclude a portion of the control circuitry.

Each of electrical switches 146 preferably includes a metal dome switchelement 136D that is adjacent to an electrical conductor pattern oncircuit board 142 or 146 to which it makes electrical contact whendepressed, e.g., via actuator openings 14R, 14L of outer housing 30.Typically, a flexible cover or boot is provided over each metal domeswitch element, e.g., to retain it in position relative to circuit board142 or 146. Circuit board 142 preferably supports one or more electricalcontacts 148, which preferably include one or more helical electricallyconductive springs for making electrical connection to a battery 150 inthe battery cavity 116 of the light module 100.

FIG. 5 is a view of the interior side of one part, e.g., left side 34′,of an example outer light housing 30′ for use with a different handgun20′ than is the housing 30 of light 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The particularexample outer light housings 30 and 30′ differ only in the shape andsize of the cavity 32F, 34F and 32F′, 34F′ that are configured tocorrespond to the size and shape of a part of the frame 22 of thehandgun 20, 20′, e.g., the respective trigger guards 24, 24′ thereof.

Both of sides 34, 34′ are configured identically for receiving andsupporting light module 100 therein and for being attached together byfasteners 38. They differ only with respect to their barrel-shapedrecesses 16, 16′ and their respective frame cavities 34, 34′ becauseeach barrel-shaped recess 16, 16′ and each frame cavity 34, 34′ isconfigured for receiving a particular part of a particular handgun,e.g., a particular barrel shape and part of a particular frame 22, 22′thereof.

As can be seen in, e.g., FIG. 2, the frame cavity 32F, 34F into whichtrigger guard 24 of frame 22 fits, are defined respectively by backingmember 32T and rearward portion 32R of right housing side 32 of housings32, and by backing member 34T and rearward portion 34R of housing 34,respectively. Frame cavity 32F, 34F is substantially wider at thetransition thereof between the portion receiving the bottom horizontalpart of trigger guard 24 and the portion thereof receiving the forwardvertical part of trigger guard 24, so as to conform to the shape oftrigger guard 24 which has a curved forward part and a forwardprojection at the bottom thereof.

In comparison, as can be seen in FIG. 5, frame cavity 32F′, 34F′ thereofis substantially uniform in width and is curved so as to conform to thesize and shape of the curved part of trigger guard 24′. Backing member34T′ and rearward member 34R′ of housing side 34′ in this embodimenthave a curvature and shape to define a frame cavity 32F′, 34F′ thatcorresponds to the size and shape of the portion of frame 22′ of handgun20′, e.g., the trigger guard 24′ thereof, so as to firmly retain triggerguard 24′ therebetween in frame cavity 32F′, 34F′. Corresponding parts32T′, 32T′ of housing side 32′ are substantially a mirror image of thoseillustrated in FIG. 5 regarding housing side 34′.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit 200 for aportable light 10 or for another portable light. Circuit 200 includes aDC converter 210, a controller 220 and a standby power reduction circuit230. DC converter 210 includes integrated power control circuit U2,inductor L1 and capacitor C2 and is configured to convert, e.g., toreduce, the voltage provided by battery 150 to a voltage suitable foroperating light source (LED) 126, laser 130 or both. The operating stateof DC converter 210, and thereby of LED 126 and/or laser 130 as beingpowered or unpowered, is controlled by microprocessor U1 in response touser signals provided via a switch 146, e.g., left and right sideswitches 146L and 146R of handgun light 10.

Operation of LED 126 is enabled by field effect transistor (FET) Q4being turned on under the control of microprocessor U1, sometimesreferred to as a micro-controller, to provide a predetermined level ofcurrent flowing through LED 126, which current is sensed by currentsensing resistor R3 to provide feedback via resistor R5 for controllingpower control circuit U2 to produce a voltage Vo at the output of DCconverter 210 that varies as needed to cause the desired predeterminedcurrent to flow through LED 126. LED 126 may be operated at differentpredetermined levels of current so as to provide light at differentlevels of brightness, e.g., dimmed, undimmed, flashing and the like.

Operation of laser 130 is enabled by FETs Q5 and Q6 being turned onunder the control of microprocessor U1 (with Q4 being off) thereby toconnect laser 130 across the output of DC converter 210 and to connectresistor R4 whereby resistors R4, R5 and R6 are configured as a voltagedivider to sense the output voltage Vo thereof to provide apredetermined voltage, e.g., about 3.2 volts DC, across laser 130.Preferably laser 130 is, e.g., an integral unit that includes a laserlight source, e.g., a laser diode, and the control circuitry necessaryto operate the laser diode when a suitable input voltage, e.g., voltageVo, is applied thereto.

Controller 220 operates responsive to the actuation of electrical switch146, e.g., left and right side electrical switches 146L and 146R in thecase of handgun light 10, via resistors R6, R7 and R8 to signal adesired operating state or condition for LED 126 and laser 130.Electrical switches 146, 146L and 146R are preferably momentary switchesthe closure and/or opening of which signal a desired operating conditionto microprocessor U1 which appropriately enables one or more of FETSQ4-Q6, which are preferably operated as electrical switches being eitheron (conductive) or off (non-conductive), to apply and remove electricalpower from LED 126 and/or laser 130. Either or both of switches 146L,146R may be actuated to signal processor U1 to operate LED 126 and/orlaser 130 in momentarily on, continuously on, continuously off, andother states.

If both LED 126 and laser 130 are to be powered on, DC converter 210provides a predetermined operating voltage Vo for laser 130 and FET Q4may be operated in a linear mode under the control of processor U1 sothat a predetermined current flows through LED 126. In another example,DC converter 210 provides a predetermined operating voltage Vo, e.g., avoltage of about 2.8-3.0 VDC, to operate both LED 126 and laser 130 thatis suitable for operating both LED 126 and laser 130.

Switches 146, 146L, 146R may be actuated in a sequence or manner, e.g.,a number of closures within a given period of time and/or a continuousclosure for a given period of time, or a combination thereof, to signalprocessor U1 to operate LED 126 and laser 130 in various operatingmodes, e.g., dimmed, undimmed, flashing, blinking, and/or strobedoperation, and/or to otherwise program micro-controller U1. Further,both of switches 146L and 146R may be actuated at the same time to setor program micro-controller U1 to operate LED 126 and/or laser 130 in aparticular operating mode or modes that is or are retained in a memoryof micro-controller U1 when circuit 200 is turned off.

The common connection between switches 146L, 146R is connected tobattery positive B+ via one contact of mated connectors P1 and the othercontacts switches 146L, 146R are separately connected to resistors R6,R7, respectively, via separate contacts of mated connectors P1 whichprovide physical connections with circuit 200. It is noted that in allof the foregoing operating states, FETs Q1-Q3 which are operated aselectrical switches being either on or off, are turned on so that U1 andU2 are connected to the source of electrical power, e.g., to battery150. Connector P1 provides a convenient way to facilitate assembly,e.g., of module 100, with connector P1 being mounted to circuit board142 and the mating part of connector P1 being provided by contacts nearthe edge of a flexible substrate 144-146 that is configured to be formedto provide extender circuit board 144 and left and right switch basecircuit boards 146C in a single assembly that can be formed andinstalled in module 100.

However, even when both LED 126 and laser 130 are in the off state andthus do not consume power, both microprocessor U1 and power controllerU2 in a conventional arrangement would be connected to battery 150 andwould draw standby power therefrom, which would over a period of timedrain battery 150.

To reduce, and preferably to avoid, such battery drain, lighting circuit200 preferably includes a standby power reduction circuit 230 thatincludes, e.g., field effect transistors Q2 and Q3 and their associatedcomponents. So that the connection of control processor U1 and DCconverter U2 to battery 150 can be rendered open, a series electronicswitch is provided in either the positive voltage supply or in thenegative voltage supply to ICs U1 and U2. In the illustrated exampleembodiment, field effect transistors, e.g., FETS Q1 and Q2, provide suchelectronic switch function and when turned off, reduce the standby poweressentially to zero.

FET Q2 is connected in series between the positive battery terminal B+and the positive voltage connection VDD of control processor U1 tocontrol the application of battery voltage, e.g., received betweenterminals B+ and B−, to control processor U1. FET Q3 is connected inseries between the negative battery terminal B− and the negative voltageconnection GND to DC converter IC U2 to control the application ofbattery voltage to DC converter IC U2. FET Q2 includes an n-channel FET(n-FET) to the left and a p-channel FET (p-FET) to the right as drawn inFIG. 6. The negative voltage connection VSS to control processor U1 isconnected via diode D1, e.g., a Schottky diode, to the negative batteryterminal B− and the positive voltage connection VIN of DC converter ICU2 is directly connected to the positive battery terminal B+.

FET Q1 is provided to protect lighting circuit 200 from reverse polarityshould battery 150 be improperly installed in light 10. FET Q1 isconnected with its controllable conduction path (channel) in series withbattery 150 at its negative B− terminal with the control electrode,e.g., gate electrode, of FET Q1 connected to the battery positive B+terminal via resistor R10 so that FET Q1 is conductive (on) with a verylow voltage drop when battery 150 is present with the correct polarityand is non-conductive (off) if battery 150 were to be present with theincorrect (reverse) polarity, e.g., were to be installed backwards inthe battery cavity or receptacle.

Operation of electrical lighting circuit 200 including the standby powerreducing circuit 230 thereof will now be described beginning withcircuit 200 being in an unpowered condition, e.g., as is the caseimmediately after a battery 150 is received or after circuit 200 hasbeen turned off FETS Q2 (both the n-FET and the p-FET thereof) and Q3are then biased to an off or non-conductive (open) condition by theresistors R1, R2 and R9, respectively, which are connected between theirrespective gate (control) electrodes and source (channel) electrodes.

When either or both of electrical switches 146, 146L, 146R are actuatedto close the contacts thereof, battery voltage V+ is applied viaresistors R6 and/or R7 to provide operating power to turn on controlmicroprocessor U1 (e.g., pin 7, AN0/IOCA0, is internally connected topositive power pin 1, VDD, by a diode internal to U1) which in turnapplies voltage to the control electrode (gate electrode) of n-FET Q2 torender the controllable conduction paths (channels) of both n-FET Q2 andp-FET Q2 conductive, thereby to apply battery voltage B+ to pin VDD ofmicroprocessor U1 to latch microprocessor U1 in the powered or oncondition.

At substantially the same time, microprocessor U1 also applies voltageto the control electrode (gate) of FET Q3 to render its controllableconduction path (channel) conductive to turn FET Q3 on thereby toconnect the GND terminal of DC converter U2 to negative battery terminalB−, whereby DC converter U2 is connected across battery terminals B+ andB− and receives battery power therefrom to operate as a DC converter 210as described.

When the, e.g., normally open contacts of electrical switches 146, 146L,146R thereafter open, microprocessor U1 is programmed to maintain thevoltages supplied to the gates of FETS Q2 and Q3 so that bothmicroprocessor U1 and DC converter U2 remain powered on and operating topower LED 126 and/or laser 130. Thereafter, the closing and/or openingof momentary electrical switches 146, 146L, 146R provide signals viaresistor divider R6, R7, R8 to microprocessor U1 for changing theoperating condition of light 10. Preferably, controller U1 may beprogrammed to turn circuit 200 off in the absence of a signal fromswitch 146, 146L, 146R for a predetermined period of time, e.g., 10minutes, thereby to prevent accidental discharge of battery 150, e.g.,should a user fail to turn the light off.

In this operating condition, resistors R6, R7, R8 provide a voltagedivider that provides predetermined voltages to control processor U1 inresponse to the closing and/or opening of the, e.g., normally open,contacts of switch 146, 146L, 146R to command and/or program processorU1 to operate lighting circuit 200 in an operating mode represented bythe sequence and/or timing of the closing and/or opening of the contactsof switches 146, 146L, 146R.

Capacitors C1, C2 provide filtering of the voltage provided by battery150 at electronic devices U1 and U2 and further tend to maintainsuitable operating voltage for processor U1 and DC converter U2 duringcertain operations, e.g., to maintain sufficient voltage for controllerU1 to resist disruption to operation due to a momentary loss of battery150 voltage, e.g., when circuit 200 is employed in a handgun light 10and the weapon to which it is attached is discharged. Further, ifcontroller U1 were not to be programmed to complete a turn off sequencebefore removing the control voltages keeping FETs Q2, Q3, conductive,then capacitor C1 may also provide a continuing voltage to assistcompletion of the programmed turn off sequencing, e.g., of DC converterU2, of FETs Q2 and Q3, and of controller U1.

When the signals so provided to microprocessor U1 via the closing and/oropening of momentary electrical switches 146, 146L, 146R indicate thatthe selected operating mode is to be the off mode, upon the opening ofthe contact(s) thereof microprocessor U1 removes the voltage it had beenproviding to the gates of FETS Q2 and Q3 that was maintaining FETS Q2,Q3 of standby power reducing circuit 230 in their conductive or oncondition so that FETS Q2, Q3 then become non-conductive. And so FETS Q2and Q3 are turned off to remove battery power (e.g., they interrupt theconnections of U1 and U2 to battery 150) from both control processor U1and DC converter U2, thereby to place lighting circuit 200 into itsstandby mode, while sufficient voltage over the short time needed tocomplete that operation is provided by capacitor C1. In this off mode orcondition, FETS Q2 and Q3 being non-conductive prevents lighting circuit200 from drawing significant standby power from battery 150, wherebybattery 150 can remain charged without lighting circuit 200 reducing theduration of its shelf life.

In a typical embodiment, housings 30 and 110 are of any suitable plasticor metal material, e.g., preferably a molded plastic such as a nylon,engineered nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, a PC/PET plastic blend,ABS plastic, with or without a reinforcing material such as afiberglass, carbon fiber or the like, or any other suitable plastic orother moldable material. Outer housing 30, in particular, or partsthereof, e.g., battery cover 36, may be made from an aluminum, brass,beryllium copper, stainless steel, or other metal, e.g., where thestrength and/or electrical conductivity provided thereby, and/or thelook thereof, is considered necessary or desirable. Movable member 36Hmay be of one of the foregoing plastic materials or of a resilientpolymer, elastomer or other plastic material, e.g., a urethane,silicone, rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like, and may be over-moldedonto a loop of a metal or other suitable material. By way of furtherexample, some or all of the inner surfaces of housing sides 32, 34 thatdefine frame cavity 32F, 34F may be of one of the foregoing polymer,elastomer or other resilient plastic materials, thereby to increasefriction between frame 22 of handgun 20 and housing 30 of light 10 forbetter retaining light 10 in a desired position relative to handgun 20.

In one typical embodiment, light 10 is about 2.3 inches (about 5.8 cm)in length, about 0.85 inches (about 2.2 cm) in width, and about 1.5inches (about 3.8 cm) in height, and light module 100 is about 1.5inches (about 3.8 cm) in length, about 0.8 inches (about 2.0 cm) inwidth, and about 1.2 inches (about 3.0 cm) in height.

In one example embodiment of lighting circuit 200, microprocessor U1 isa type PIC12F752 device which is an 8-bit micro-controller that iscommercially available from Microchip Technology, Inc. located inChandler, Ariz., and DC converter U2 is a type PAM2804 device which is astep down LED driver that is commercially available from DiodesIncorporated located in Dallas (Plano), Tex.

Other examples of electrical and/or control circuitry suitable for usein an example embodiment of a light 10 are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat.No. 7,466,082 entitled “ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT REDUCING AND BOOSTING VOLTAGEFOR CONTROLLING LED CURRENT,” in U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,701 entitled“FLASHLIGHT HAVING A CONTROLLER PROVIDING PROGRAMMABLE OPERATINGSTATES,” in U.S. Pat. No. 8,258,416 entitled “ELECTRICAL SWITCH ANDFLASHLIGHT,” and in U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,683 entitled “LIGHT HAVING ACIRCUIT ACCOMMODATING BATTERIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES AND/OR SIZES,” eachof which is assigned to Streamlight, Incorporated, located inEagleville, Pa., and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, for any purpose.

A light 10 mountable on a handgun 20 may comprise: a light module 100including in a light module housing 110 one or more light sources 120,130, a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power 150, at leastone electrical switch 146, and a control circuit for selectivelyenergizing the one or more light sources 120, 130; an outer lighthousing 30 having first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34enclosing the light module 100, the first and second complementaryhousing parts 32, 34 cooperating when together to define at a first endof the outer light housing 30 a cavity configured to correspond to thesize and shape of a part of the handgun; whereby the light 10 ismountable to the part of the handgun when the first and secondcomplementary housing parts 32, 34 of the outer light housing 30 areattached together with the part of the handgun in the cavity thereof;the outer light housing 30 having one or more openings at a second endthereof through which light produced by the one or more light sources120, 130 may be emitted; the outer light housing 30 having an openingthrough which the at least one electrical switch 146 of the light module100 is actuatable from outside the outer light housing 30; and the outerlight housing 30 including an access cover 36 on an exterior surfacethereof that is not adjacent the handgun, the access cover 36 beingopenable when the light 10 is mounted on a handgun for placing a sourceof electrical power 150 into the light module housing 110 and forremoving the source of electrical power 150 from the light modulehousing 110. The one or more light sources 120, 130 of the light module100 may include: an illumination light source 120, or a laser aiminglight source 130; or an illumination light source 120 and a laser aiminglight source 130. The first and second complementary housing parts 32,34 of the outer light housing 30 may be attached together by one or morethreaded fasteners 38, wherein tightening the one or more threadedfasteners 38 clamps the part of the handgun in the cavity therefordefined by the first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34. Thepart of the handgun for which the cavity of the outer light housing 30is configured may include a trigger guard 24. The access cover 36 may beclosable to retain the source of electrical power 150 in the lightmodule housing 110; or the access cover 36 may be pivotably attached toone of the first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34 of theouter light housing 30; or the access cover 36 may be closable to retainthe source of electrical power 150 in the light module housing 110 andmay be pivotably attached to one of the first and second complementaryhousing parts 32, 34 of the outer light housing 30. The light 10mountable on a handgun may further comprise a movable member 36Mdisposed between the access cover 36 and a side of the source ofelectrical power 150, wherein the movable member 36M biases the sourceof electrical power 150 against a surface of the light module 100. Themovable member 36M may bias the source of electrical power 150 againstan electrical contact of the light module 100 so that the side of thesource of electrical power 150 makes an electrical connection to theelectrical contact, e.g., of a circuit structure. The light 10 mountableon a handgun may be in combination with at least a second outer lighthousing 30′ having first and second complementary housing parts 32′, 34′for enclosing the light module 100, the first and second complementaryhousing parts 32′, 34′ of the second outer light housing 30′ cooperatingwhen together to define at a first end of the outer light housing 30 acavity configured to correspond to the size and shape of a part of adifferent handgun than does the outer light housing 30. The light module100 may include an azimuth adjusting screw 136A and an elevationadjusting screw 136E for aiming the laser light source 130 in azimuthand elevation, respectively, and the outer light housing 30 may have oneor more openings 136 through which the azimuth adjusting screw 136A andthe elevation adjusting screw 136E can be adjusted. The control circuit200 may comprise: a control processor 220 having a control input forreceiving a signal, having a first control output, having a secondcontrol output for selectively energizing the one or more light sources120, 130, and having first and second power terminals VDD, VSS at whichelectrical power to operate the control processor 220 is received; atleast one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R of the at least oneelectrical switch 146, 146L, 146R of the light module 100 selectivelyconnecting one of first and second terminals B+, B− of the source ofelectrical power 150 to the control input of the control processor 220to cause the control processor 220 to selectively energize the one ormore light sources 120, 130; a first controllable electronic device Q2having a controllable conduction path connected between the firstterminal B+, B− and the first power terminal VDD, VSS of the controlprocessor 220, and having a control electrode coupled to the firstcontrol output of the control processor 220; wherein when electricalpower is received from the source of electrical power 150 at the firstand second terminals B+, B−, the control processor 220 is responsive toa closure or to an opening or to both a closure and an opening of the atleast one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R to provide a controlvoltage at the first control output that is coupled to the controlelectrode of the first controllable electronic device Q2 to maintain thefirst controllable electronic device Q2 conductive, whereby the controlprocessor 220 then remains in a powered condition; and wherein thecontrol processor 220 is responsive to a subsequent closure or to asubsequent opening or both a subsequent closure and a subsequent openingof the at least one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R to removethe control voltage at the first control output that is coupled to thecontrol electrode of the first controllable electronic device Q2 torender the first controllable electronic device Q2 nonconductive,whereby the control processor 220 is then in an unpowered condition evenwhen electrical power is received at the first and second terminals B+,B−.

A light 10 mountable on a handgun 20 may comprise: a light module 100including in a light module housing 110, an illumination light source120 and a laser aiming light source 130, a cavity for receiving a sourceof electrical power 150, at least one electrical switch 146, and acontrol circuit for selectively energizing the illumination light source120 and the laser aiming light source 130; an outer light housing 30having first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34 enclosing thelight module 100, the first and second complementary housing parts 32,34 cooperating when together to define at a first end of the outer lighthousing 30 a cavity configured to correspond to the size and shape of apart of the handgun; whereby the light 10 is mountable to the part ofthe handgun when the first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34of the outer light housing 30 are attached together with the part of thehandgun in the cavity thereof; the outer light housing 30 having one ormore openings 12 at a second end thereof through which light produced bythe illumination light source 120 and the laser aiming light source 130may be emitted; and the outer light housing 30 having an 32A, 34Athrough which the at least one electrical switch 146 of the light module100 is actuatable from outside the outer light housing 30. The outerlight housing 30 may include an access cover 36 on an exterior surfacethereof that is not adjacent the handgun, the access cover 36 beingopenable when the light is mounted on a handgun for placing a source ofelectrical power 150 into the light module housing 110 and for removingthe source of electrical power 150 from the light module housing 110.The access cover 36 may be closable to retain the source of electricalpower 150 in the light module housing 110; or the access cover 36 may bepivotably attached to one of the first and second complementary housingparts 32, 34 of the outer light housing 30; or the access cover 36 maybe closable to retain the source of electrical power 150 in the lightmodule housing 110 and may be pivotably attached to one of the first andsecond complementary housing parts 32, 34 of the outer light housing 30.The light 10 mountable on a handgun may further comprise a movablemember 36M disposed between the access cover 36 and a side of the sourceof electrical power 150, wherein the movable member 36M biases thesource of electrical power 150 against a surface of the light module100. The movable member 36M may bias the source of electrical power 150against an electrical contact of the light module 100 so that the sideof the source of electrical power 150 makes an electrical connection tothe electrical contact. The first and second complementary housing parts32, 34 of the outer light housing 30 may be attached together by one ormore threaded fasteners 38, wherein tightening the one or more threadedfasteners 38 clamps the part of the handgun in the cavity therefordefined by the first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34. Thepart of the handgun for which the cavity of the outer light housing 30is configured may include a trigger guard. The light 10 mountable on ahandgun may be in combination with at least a second outer light housing30′ having first and second complementary housing parts 32′, 34′ forenclosing the light module 100, the first and second complementaryhousing parts 32′, 34′ of the second outer light housing 30′ cooperatingwhen together to define at a first end of the outer light housing 30 acavity configured to correspond to the size and shape of a part of adifferent handgun than does the outer light housing 30 of claim 1. Thelight module 100 may include an azimuth adjusting screw 136A and anelevation adjusting screw 136E for aiming the laser light source 130 inazimuth and elevation, respectively, and the outer light housing 30 mayhave one or more openings 136 through which an azimuth adjusting screw136A and the elevation adjusting screw 136E can be adjusted. The controlcircuit 200 may comprise: a control processor 220 having a control inputfor receiving a signal, having a first control output, having a secondcontrol output for selectively energizing the illumination light source120 and the laser aiming light source 130, and having first and secondpower terminals VDD, VSS at which electrical power to operate thecontrol processor 220 is received; at least one electrical switchcontact 146, 146L, 146R of the at least one electrical switch 146, 146L,146R of the light module 100 selectively connecting one of first andsecond terminals B+, B− of the source of electrical power 150 to thecontrol input of the control processor 220 to cause the controlprocessor 220 to selectively energize the illumination light source 120and the laser aiming light source 130; a first controllable electronicdevice Q2 having a controllable conduction path connected between thefirst terminal B+, B− and the first power terminal VDD, VSS of thecontrol processor 220, and having a control electrode coupled to thefirst control output of the control processor 220; wherein whenelectrical power is received from the source of electrical power 150 atthe first and second terminals B+, B−, the control processor 220 isresponsive to a closure or to an opening or to both a closure and anopening of the at least one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R toprovide a control voltage at the first control output that is coupled tothe control electrode of the first controllable electronic device Q2 tomaintain the first controllable electronic device Q2 conductive, wherebythe control processor 220 then remains in a powered condition; andwherein the control processor 220 is responsive to a subsequent closureor to a subsequent opening or both a subsequent closure and a subsequentopening of the at least one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R toremove the control voltage at the first control output that is coupledto the control electrode of the first controllable electronic device Q2to render the first controllable electronic device Q2 nonconductive,whereby the control processor 220 is then in an unpowered condition evenwhen electrical power is received at the first and second terminals B+,B−.

A light 10 mountable on a handgun may comprise: a light module 100including in a light module housing 110 an illumination light source 120and a laser aiming light source 120, a cavity for receiving a source ofelectrical power 150, at least one electrical switch 146, and a controlcircuit for selectively energizing the illumination light source 120 andthe laser aiming light source 130; an outer light housing 30 havingfirst and second complementary housing parts 32, 34 enclosing the lightmodule 100, the first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34cooperating when together to define at a first end of the outer lighthousing 30 a cavity configured to correspond to the size and shape of atrigger guard of the handgun; whereby the light 10 is mountable to thetrigger guard of the handgun when the first and second complementaryhousing parts 32, 34 of the outer light housing 30 are attached togetherwith the trigger guard of the handgun in the cavity thereof and thelight module 100 therein; the outer light housing 30 having one or moreopenings 12 at a second end thereof through which light produced by theillumination light source 120 and the laser aiming light source 130 maybe emitted; the outer light housing 30 having an opening 32A, 34Athrough which the at least one electrical switch 146 of the light module100 is actuatable from outside the outer light housing 30; and the outerlight housing 30 including an access cover 36 on an exterior surfacethereof that is not adjacent the handgun, the access cover 36 beingopenable when the light 10 is mounted on a handgun for placing a sourceof electrical power 150 into the light module housing 110 and forremoving the source of electrical power 150 from the light modulehousing 110. The access cover 36 may be closable to retain the source ofelectrical power 150 in the light module housing 110; or the accesscover 36 may be pivotably attached to one of the first and secondcomplementary housing parts 32, 34 of the outer light housing 30; or theaccess cover 36 may be closable to retain the source of electrical power150 in the light module housing 110 and may be pivotably attached to oneof the first and second complementary housing parts 32, 34 of the outerlight housing 30. The light 10 mountable on a handgun may furthercomprise a movable member 36M disposed between the access cover 36 and aside of the source of electrical power 150, wherein the movable member36M biases the source of electrical power 150 against a surface of thelight module 100. The movable member 36M may bias the source ofelectrical power 150 against an electrical contact of the light module100 so that the side of the source of electrical power 150 makes anelectrical connection to the electrical contact. The first and secondcomplementary housing parts 32, 34 of the outer light housing 30 may beattached together by one or more threaded fasteners 38, whereintightening the one or more threaded fasteners 38 clamps the triggerguard of the handgun in the cavity therefor defined by the first andsecond complementary housing parts 32, 34. The light 10 mountable on ahandgun may be in combination with at least a second outer light housing30′ having first and second complementary housing parts 32′, 34′ forenclosing the light module 100, the first and second complementaryhousing parts 32′, 34′ of the second outer light housing 30′ cooperatingwhen together to define at a first end of the outer light housing 30′ acavity configured to correspond to the size and shape of a trigger guardof a different handgun than does the outer light housing 30. The lightmodule 100 may include an azimuth adjusting screw 136A and an elevationadjusting screw 136E for aiming the laser light source 130 in azimuthand elevation, respectively, the outer light housing 30 having one ormore openings through which an azimuth adjusting screw 136A and theelevation adjusting screw 136E can be adjusted. The control circuit 200may comprise: a control processor 220 having a control input forreceiving a signal, having a first control output, having a secondcontrol output for selectively energizing the illumination light source120 and the laser aiming light source 130, and having first and secondpower terminals VDD, VSS at which electrical power to operate thecontrol processor 220 is received; at least one electrical switchcontact 146, 146L, 146R of the at least one electrical switch 146, 146L,146R of the light module 100 selectively connecting one of first andsecond terminals B+, B− of the source of electrical power 150 to thecontrol input of the control processor 220 to cause the controlprocessor 220 to selectively energize the illumination light source 120and the laser aiming light source 130; a first controllable electronicdevice Q2 having a controllable conduction path connected between thefirst terminal B+, B− and the first power terminal VDD, VSS of thecontrol processor 220, and having a control electrode coupled to thefirst control output of the control processor 220; wherein whenelectrical power is received from the source of electrical power 150 atthe first and second terminals B+, B−, the control processor 220 isresponsive to a closure or to an opening or to both a closure and anopening of the at least one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R toprovide a control voltage at the first control output that is coupled tothe control electrode of the first controllable electronic device Q2 tomaintain the first controllable electronic device Q2 conductive, wherebythe control processor 220 then remains in a powered condition; andwherein the control processor 220 is responsive to a subsequent closureor to a subsequent opening or both a subsequent closure and a subsequentopening of the at least one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R toremove the control voltage at the first control output that is coupledto the control electrode of the first controllable electronic device Q2to render the first controllable electronic device Q2 nonconductive,whereby the control processor 220 is then in an unpowered condition evenwhen electrical power is received at the first and second terminals B+,B−.

A lighting circuit 200 for a portable light may comprise: first andsecond terminals B+, B− at which electrical power is received; a lightsource 120, 130 selectively energizable by electrical power received atthe first and second terminals B+, B−; a control processor 220 having acontrol input for receiving a signal, having a first control output,having a second control output for selectively energizing the lightsource 120, 130, and having first and second power terminals VDD, VSS atwhich electrical power to operate the control processor 220 is received;at least one electrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R selectivelyconnecting one of the first and second terminals B+, B− to the controlinput of the control processor 220 to cause the control processor toselectively energize the light source 120, 130; a first controllableelectronic device Q2 having a controllable conduction path connectedbetween the first terminal B+, B− and the first power terminal VDD, VSSof the control processor 220, and having a control electrode coupled tothe first control output of the control processor 220; wherein whenelectrical power is received at the first and second terminals B+, B−,the control processor 220 is responsive to a closure or to an opening orto both a closure and an opening of the at least one electrical switchcontact 146, 146L, 146R to provide a control voltage at the firstcontrol output that is coupled to the control electrode of the firstcontrollable electronic device Q2 to maintain the first controllableelectronic device Q2 conductive, whereby the control processor 220 thenremains in a powered condition; and wherein the control processor 220 isresponsive to a subsequent closure or to a subsequent opening or both asubsequent closure and a subsequent opening of the at least oneelectrical switch contact 146, 146L, 146R to remove the control voltageat the first control output that is coupled to the control electrode ofthe first controllable electronic device Q2 to render the firstcontrollable electronic device Q2 nonconductive, whereby the controlprocessor 220 is then in an unpowered condition even when electricalpower is received at the first and second terminals B+, B−. The lightingcircuit 200 may further comprise a DC converter 210 coupled to the firstand second terminals B+, B− for converting electrical power receivedthereat for energizing the light source 120, 130. The lighting circuit200 may further comprise: a second controllable electronic device Q3having a controllable conduction path connected between one of the firstand second terminals B+, B− and the DC converter 210, and having acontrol electrode coupled to a second control output of the controlprocessor 220; wherein the second control output provides a signal tomaintain the second controllable electronic device Q3 conductive whenthe first controllable electronic device Q2 is conductive and tomaintain the second controllable electronic device Q3 nonconductive whenthe first controllable electronic device Q2 is nonconductive, wherebythe control processor 220 and the DC converter 210 are then in anunpowered condition even when electrical power is received at the firstand second terminals B+, B−. The second controllable electronic deviceQ3 may include a field effect transistor Q3 having the controllableconduction path between its source and drain electrodes and having thecontrol electrode at its gate electrode. The light source 120, 130 mayinclude a light emitting diode 126, a laser 130, or both a lightemitting diode 126 and a laser 130, coupled to be energized by the DCconverter 210. The light source 120, 130 may include a light emittingdiode 126 and a laser 130; and the DC converter 210 may have a controlinput coupled to a third control output of the control processor 220 tocontrol the output of the DC converter 210 to selectively energize thelight emitting diode 126, the laser 130, or both the light emittingdiode 126 and the laser 130. The light source 120, 130 may include alight emitting diode 126, a laser 130, or both a light emitting diode126 and a laser 130. The DC converter 210 may provide a predeterminedcurrent to the light emitting diode 126 and a predetermined voltage tothe laser 130. The first controllable electronic device Q2 may include afield effect transistor Q2 having the controllable conduction pathbetween its source and drain electrodes and having the control electrodeat its gate electrode. The lighting circuit 200 may further comprise: alight module 100 supporting at least one of the first and secondterminals B+, B−, the light source 120, 130, the at least one electricalswitch contact 146, 146L, 146R, the control processor 220 and the firstcontrollable electronic device Q2, the light module 100 defining acavity for receiving a source of electrical power 150 at the at leastone of the first and second terminals B+, B−; and an outer light housing30 including complementary housing parts 32, 34 enclosing the lightmodule 100 and defining a cavity configured to receive a part of ahandgun 20 and an opening through which the at least one electricalswitch contact 146, 146L, 146R of the light module 100 is actuatable.The control processor 220, U1 may include a controller 220, U1.

As used herein, the term “about” means that dimensions, sizes,formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities andcharacteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximateand/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversionfactors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factorsknown to those of skill in the art. In general, a dimension, size,formulation, parameter, shape or other quantity or characteristic is“about” or “approximate”whether or not expressly stated to be such. Itis noted that embodiments of very different sizes, shapes and dimensionsmay employ the described arrangements.

Although terms such as “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “up,” “down,”“front,” “rear,” “side,” “end,” “top,” “bottom,” “forward,” “backward,”“under” and/or “over,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and the like may beused herein as a convenience in describing one or more embodimentsand/or uses of the present arrangement, e.g., the position of light 10when mounted to a handgun in a common position under the barrel thereof,the articles described may be positioned in any desired orientationand/or may be utilized in any desired position and/or orientation. Suchterms of position and/or orientation should be understood as being forconvenience only, and not as limiting of the invention as claimed.

The term battery is used herein to refer to an electro-chemical devicecomprising one or more electro-chemical cells and/or fuel cells, and soa battery may include a single cell or plural cells, whether asindividual units or as a packaged unit. A battery is one example of atype of an electrical power source suitable for a portable device. Otherdevices could include fuel cells, super capacitors, solar cells, and thelike. Any of the foregoing may be intended for a single use or for beingrechargeable or for both

Various embodiments of a battery may have one or more battery cells,e.g., one, two, three, four, or five or more battery cells, as may bedeemed suitable for any particular device. A battery may employ varioustypes and kinds of battery chemistry types, e.g., a carbon-zinc,alkaline, lead acid, nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd), nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH)or lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery type, of a suitable number of cells andcell capacity for providing a desired operating time and/or lifetime fora particular device, and may be intended for a single use or for beingrechargeable or for both. Examples may include a three or six cell leadacid battery typically producing about 6 volts or about 12 volts, athree cell Ni—Cd battery typically producing about 3.6 volts, a fourcell NiMH battery typically producing about 4.8 volts, a five cell NiMHbattery producing about 6 volts, a Li-Ion battery typically producingabout 3.5 volts, or a two-cell Li-Ion battery typically producing about7 volts, e.g., two 1/3 “N” cell lithium batteries, it being noted thatthe voltages produced thereby will be higher when approaching fullcharge and will be lower in discharge, particularly when providinghigher current and when reaching a low level of charge, e.g., becomingdischarged.

The term DC converter is used herein to refer to any electronic circuitthat receives at an input electrical power at one voltage and currentlevel and provides at an output DC electrical power at a differentvoltage and/or current level. Examples may include a DC-DC converter, anAC-DC converter, a boost converter, a buck converter, a buck-boostconverter, a single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC), a seriesregulating element, a current level regulator, and the like. The inputand output thereof may be DC coupled and/or AC coupled, e.g., as by atransformer and/or capacitor. A DC converter may or may not includecircuitry for regulating a voltage and/or a current level, e.g., at anoutput thereof, and may have one or more outputs providing electricalpower at different voltage and/or current levels and/or in differentforms, e.g., AC or DC.

A fastener as used herein may include any fastener or other fasteningdevice that may be suitable for the described use, including threadedfasteners, e.g., bolts, screws and driven fasteners, as well as pins,rivets, nails, spikes, barbed fasteners, clips, clamps, nuts, speednuts, cap nuts, acorn nuts, and the like. Where it is apparent that afastener would be removable in the usual use of the example embodimentdescribed herein, then removable fasteners would be preferred is suchinstances. A fastener may also include, where appropriate, other formsof fastening such as a formed head, e.g., a peened or swaged or heatformed head, a weld, e.g., a heat weld or ultrasonic weld, a braze, andthe like.

While the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoingexample embodiments, variations within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention as defined by the claims following will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. For example, while light 10 preferablyincludes both illumination light source 120 and aiming laser lightsource 130, in an embodiment for a particular application, light 10could include either illumination light source 120 or aiming laser lightsource 130, but not both.

While illumination light source 120 is illustrated in an upper or overposition and laser light source 130 in a lower or under position, thesepositions may be reversed, or may be made side-by-side, if desired.Similarly, while switch actuating buttons 14 are preferably provided onboth the left and right sides of light 10, only one switch actuatingbutton need be provided and it could be located in a position as or nearas illustrated or could be in a different location.

Battery cover 36 may be made of an electrically conductive material soas to make electrical connection to the side or end of lower battery 150with which it is in physical contact, or a separate electrical contactmay be provided on a battery cover 36. In a further alternative, movablemember 36M may be part of and/or attached to battery access cover 36,e.g., a raised part thereof or a resilient bump attached thereto, ratherthan a separate piece.

While the controllable electronic devices, e.g., FETs Q2 and Q3, areshown by way of example as being connected in series with the positivepolarity of electrical power to control processor U1 and in series withthe negative polarity of electrical power to DC converter U2,respectively, the controllable electronic device, e.g., FET, for eitheror both of U1 and U2 may be connected in series in either the positiveor the negative power connection therefor, or in both the positive andnegative polarity power connections therefor.

Further, while controllable electronic devices, e.g., FETs Q2 and Q3,are shown by way of example as being connected in series with acontroller or processor U1 and in series with a DC converter U2,respectively, a standby power reduction circuit of the sort describedherein may be used with any integrated circuit or non-integrated circuitelements in a lighting circuit, e.g., where a reduction of standby poweris desired.

It is noted that the terms processor, microprocessor, control processor,controller, micro-controller, and the like are used interchangeablyherein.

While certain features may be described as a raised feature, e.g., aridge, boss, flange, projection or other raised feature, such featuremay be positively formed or may be what remains after a recessedfeature, e.g., a groove, slot, hole, indentation, recess or otherrecessed feature, is made. Similarly, while certain features may bedescribed as a recessed feature, e.g., a groove, slot, hole,indentation, recess or other recessed feature, such feature may bepositively formed or may be what remains after a raised feature, e.g., aridge, boss, flange, projection or other raised feature, is made.

Each of the U.S. Provisional Applications, U.S. patent applications,and/or U.S. patents, identified herein is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, for any purpose and for all purposesirrespective of how it may be referred to or described herein.

Finally, numerical values stated are typical or example values, are notlimiting values, and do not preclude substantially larger and/orsubstantially smaller values. Values in any given embodiment may besubstantially larger and/or may be substantially smaller than theexample or typical values stated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighting circuit for a portable lightcomprising: first and second terminals at which electrical power isreceived; a light source selectively energizable by electrical powerreceived at said first and second terminals; a control processor havinga control input for receiving a signal, having a first control output,having a second control output for selectively energizing said lightsource, and having first and second power terminals at which electricalpower to operate said control processor is received; at least oneelectrical switch contact selectively connecting one of said first andsecond terminals to the control input of said control processor to causesaid control processor to selectively energize said light source; afirst controllable electronic device having a controllable conductionpath connected between said first terminal and the first power terminalof said control processor, and having a control electrode coupled to thefirst control output of said control processor; wherein when electricalpower is received at said first and second terminals, said controlprocessor is responsive to a closure or to an opening or to both aclosure and an opening of said at least one electrical switch contact toprovide a control voltage at the first control output that is coupled tothe control electrode of said first controllable electronic device tomaintain said first controllable electronic device conductive, wherebysaid control processor then remains in a powered condition; and whereinsaid control processor is responsive to a subsequent closure or to asubsequent opening or to both a subsequent closure and a subsequentopening of said at least one electrical switch contact to remove thecontrol voltage at the first control output that is coupled to thecontrol electrode of said first controllable electronic device to rendersaid first controllable electronic device nonconductive, whereby saidcontrol processor is then in an unpowered condition even when electricalpower is received at said first and second terminals.
 2. The lightingcircuit of claim 1 further comprising a DC converter coupled to saidfirst and second terminals for converting electrical power receivedthereat for energizing said light source.
 3. The lighting circuit ofclaim 2 further comprising: a second controllable electronic devicehaving a controllable conduction path connected between one of saidfirst and second terminals and said DC converter, and having a controlelectrode coupled to the second control output of said controlprocessor; wherein said second control output provides a signal tomaintain said second controllable electronic device conductive when saidfirst controllable electronic device is conductive and to maintain saidsecond controllable electronic device nonconductive when said firstcontrollable electronic device is nonconductive, whereby said controlprocessor and said DC converter are then in an unpowered condition evenwhen electrical power is received at said first and second terminals. 4.The lighting circuit of claim 3 wherein said second controllableelectronic device includes a field effect transistor having thecontrollable conduction path between its source and drain electrodes andhaving the control electrode at its gate electrode.
 5. The lightingcircuit of claim 2 wherein said light source includes a light emittingdiode, a laser, or both a light emitting diode and a laser, coupled tobe energized by said DC converter.
 6. The lighting circuit of claim 2wherein; said light source includes a light emitting diode and a laser;and said DC converter has a control input coupled to a third controloutput of said control processor to control the output of said DCconverter to selectively energize said light emitting diode, said laser,or both said light emitting diode and said laser.
 7. The lightingcircuit of claim 1 wherein said light source includes a light emittingdiode, a laser, or both a light emitting diode and a laser.
 8. Thelighting circuit of claim 7 wherein said DC converter provides apredetermined current to said light emitting diode and a predeterminedvoltage to said laser.
 9. The lighting circuit of claim 1 wherein saidfirst controllable electronic device includes a field effect transistorhaving the controllable conduction path between its source and drainelectrodes and having the control electrode at its gate electrode. 10.The lighting circuit of claim 1 further comprising: a housing supportingat least one of said first and second terminals, said light source, saidat least one electrical switch contact, said control processor and saidfirst controllable electronic device, said housing defining a cavity forreceiving a source of electrical power at the at least one of said firstand second terminals; or a housing supporting at least one of said firstand second terminals, said light source, said at least one electricalswitch contact, said control processor and said first controllableelectronic device, said housing defining a cavity for receiving a sourceof electrical power at the at least one of said first and secondterminals, and defining a cavity configured to receive a part of ahandgun and an opening through which said at least one electrical switchcontact is actuatable.
 11. The lighting circuit of claim 10 wherein saidhousing includes: a light module supporting the at least one of saidfirst and second terminals, said light source, said at least oneelectrical switch contact, said control processor and said firstcontrollable electronic device, said light module defining the cavityfor receiving a source of electrical power; and an outer light housingincluding complementary housing parts enclosing said light module anddefining the cavity configured to receive a part of a handgun and theopening through which said at least one electrical switch contact isactuatable.
 12. The lighting circuit of claim 1 wherein said controlprocessor includes a controller.
 13. A lighting circuit for a portablelight comprising: first and second terminals at which electrical poweris received; a light source selectively energizable by electrical powerreceived at said first and second terminals; a control processor havinga control input for receiving a signal, having a first control output,having a second control output for selectively energizing said lightsource, and having first and second power terminals at which electricalpower to operate said control processor is received; at least oneelectrical switch contact selectively coupling the control input of saidcontrol processor to one of said first and second terminals to causesaid control processor to selectively energize said light source; afirst controllable electronic device having a controllable conductionpath connected between said first terminal and the first power terminalof said control processor, and having a control electrode coupled to thefirst control output of said control processor; wherein when electricalpower is received at said first and second terminals, said controlprocessor is responsive to a closure or to an opening or to both aclosure and an opening of said at least one electrical switch contact toprovide a control voltage at the first control output that is coupled tothe control electrode of said first controllable electronic device tomaintain said first controllable electronic device conductive, wherebysaid control processor then remains in a powered condition; and whereinsaid control processor is responsive to a subsequent closure or to asubsequent opening or to both a subsequent closure and a subsequentopening of said at least one electrical switch contact to remove thecontrol voltage at the first control output that is coupled to thecontrol electrode of said first controllable electronic device to rendersaid first controllable electronic device nonconductive, whereby saidfirst controllable electronic device is then non-conductive and saidcontrol processor is then in an unpowered condition even when electricalpower is received at said first and second terminals.
 14. The lightingcircuit of claim 13 further comprising a DC converter coupled to saidfirst and second terminals for converting electrical power receivedthereat for energizing said light source.
 15. The lighting circuit ofclaim 14 further comprising: a second controllable electronic devicehaving a controllable conduction path connected between one of saidfirst and second terminals and said DC converter, and having a controlelectrode coupled to the second control output of said controlprocessor; wherein said second control output provides a signal tomaintain said second controllable electronic device conductive when saidfirst controllable electronic device is conductive and to maintain saidsecond controllable electronic device nonconductive when said firstcontrollable electronic device is nonconductive, whereby said controlprocessor and said DC converter are then in an unpowered condition evenwhen electrical power is received at said first and second terminals.16. The lighting circuit of claim 15 wherein said second controllableelectronic device includes a field effect transistor having thecontrollable conduction path between its source and drain electrodes andhaving the control electrode at its gate electrode.
 17. The lightingcircuit of claim 14 wherein said light source includes a light emittingdiode, a laser, or both a light emitting diode and a laser, coupled tobe energized by said DC converter.
 18. The lighting circuit of claim 14wherein; said light source includes a light emitting diode and a laser;and said DC converter has a control input coupled to a third controloutput of said control processor to control the output of said DCconverter to selectively energize said light emitting diode, said laser,or both said light emitting diode and said laser.
 19. The lightingcircuit of claim 13 wherein said light source includes a light emittingdiode, a laser, or both a light emitting diode and a laser.
 20. Thelighting circuit of claim 19 wherein said DC converter provides apredetermined current to said light emitting diode and a predeterminedvoltage to said laser.
 21. The lighting circuit of claim 13 wherein saidfirst controllable electronic device includes a field effect transistorhaving the controllable conduction path between its source and drainelectrodes and having the control electrode at its gate electrode. 22.The lighting circuit of claim 13 further comprising: a housingsupporting at least one of said first and second terminals, said lightsource, said at least one electrical switch contact, said controlprocessor and said first controllable electronic device, said housingdefining a cavity for receiving a source of electrical power at the atleast one of said first and second terminals; or a housing supporting atleast one of said first and second terminals, said light source, said atleast one electrical switch contact, said control processor and saidfirst controllable electronic device, said housing defining a cavity forreceiving a source of electrical power at the at least one of said firstand second terminals, and defining a cavity configured to receive a partof a handgun and an opening through which said at least one electricalswitch contact is actuatable.
 23. The lighting circuit of claim 22wherein said housing includes: a light module supporting the at leastone of said first and second terminals, said light source, said at leastone electrical switch contact, said control processor and said firstcontrollable electronic device, said light module defining the cavityfor receiving a source of electrical power; and an outer light housingincluding complementary housing parts enclosing said light module anddefining the cavity configured to receive a part of a handgun and theopening through which said at least one electrical switch contact isactuatable.
 24. The lighting circuit of claim 13 wherein said controlprocessor includes a controller.